Dispensing mechanism with motor driven regulator



H. R. PAYNE 3, ,7

DISPENSING MECHANISM WITH MOTOR DRIVEN REGULATOR Oct. 6, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed D80. 5, 1962 INVENTOR HAERY R. PAYNE BY @a/nzman,

ATTORNEYS H. R. PAYNE Oct. 6, 1964 DISPENSING MECHANISM WITH MOTOR DRIVEN REGULATOR Filed Dec. 5, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTOENEYS' Mon/(MM? Oct. 6, 1964 H. R. PAYNE 3,151,770

DISPENSING MECHANISM WITH MOTOR DRIVEN REGULATOR Filed Dec. 5, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 1N VENTOR.

HARRY R.PAYNE @flnman, WW -M70 A T TORNEYS' United States Patent 3,151,770 DlSlENSWG MECHANISM WHTH MGTQR DRIVEN REGULATOR Harry R. Payne, Chattanooga, Tenn., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Seeburg Corporation, Chicago, EL, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 242,539 12 Claims. (Cl. 221-45) This invention relates to dispensing mechanisms and to dispensing mechanisms with a motor driven regulator and more particularly to dispensing mechanisms for dispensing a single article at a time from a vertical stack of articles which may have a motor driven regulator for regulating the dispensing movement of the article and the speed with which the article is dispensed.

More particularly still this invention relates to a dispensing mechanism for dispensing a single container from a vertical stack of containers with regulated speed of dispensing which containers may be cans or bottles or the like of beverages or soft drinks, hereinafter for convenience referred to as bottles.

Heretofore various mechanisms have been proposed for dispensing one bottle at a time from a vertical stack of bottles. The lowermost bottle of the stack of bottles upon actuation of the dispensing mechanism drops under the force of gravity and, by reason of the weight of the bottles above it in the stack, falls with considerable speed so that it has been necessary to cushion the shock of fall of the bottle to prevent breakage. Resilient cushions of one type or another have been conventionally used for this purpose but breakage and chipping of the bottles still occurs.

The present invention overcomes the dificulties inherent in known devices for dispensing a single bottle at a time from a vertical stack of bottles and for controlling the downward movement of the dispensed bottle and includes a novel mechanism for releasing the lowest bottle from the vertical stack of bottles. The mechanism may include a motor driven regulator which controls the downward movement of the dispensed bottle at a predetermined speed so that the dispensed bottle moves to dispensing position at a speed which will preclude chipping of the bottles or breakage. The power driven regulator of the present invention can be used with a single stack of bottles or with a plurality of vertical stacks of bottles arranged in side by side relationship with the mechanism disposed so that but one bottle from any of the stacks of bottles is dispensed for a single actuation of the mechanism.

The dispensing mechanism and regulator of this invention is particularly suitable for use in coin controlled vending machines so that but a single bottle is dispensed at controlled speeds for each deposit of a coin in the machine.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel mechanism for dispensing the lowermost bottle in a vertical stack of bottles at controlled speed with but one bottle dispensed for each actuation of the mechanism.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a power driven regulator for controlling the speed of dispensing of the lowermost bottle of a vertical stack of bottles upon actuation of the bottle release mechanism.

Another object is to provide a speed regulator for con trolling the speed of dispensing of the lowermost bottle in a vertical stack of bottles upon actuation of the bottle release mechanism, the regulator being adapted for use with a plurality of stacks of bottles arranged in side by side relationship.

Another object of the present invention is to provide 3,151,770 Patented Oct. 6, 1E6! ice a regulator for controlling the speed of a bottle released from a vertical stack of bottles in which a support for the bottle engages a non-extensible flexible member. This flexible m mber is normally in tensioned position but is provided with slack to permit the bottle on the support to descend slowly to control the downward movement of the bottle.

Other and further objects of the present invention will appear from the following description of an illustrative embodiment thereof.

While the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention is intended to describe a preferred embodiment of the present concept, it is to be understood that this invention is capable of various mechanical embodiments. One such preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings and is described hereinafter. This embodiment is not to be construed as defining or limiting the invention and reference should be had to the appended claims for this purpose.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters illustrate like parts, FIG. 1 is a front View of a dispensing mechanism having a plurality of side by side vertical stacks of bottles, here shown as three stacks with each stack having novel mechanism for releasing the lowermost bottle in the stack and including a common regulator for all of the stacks;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the left stack of FIG. 1 showing the same in bottle released position with the regulator permitting partial downward movement of the released bottle;

FIG. 3 is a View similar to FIG. 1 showing the regulator in bottle dispensing position; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view corresponding to the position of the mechanism seen in FIG. 2.

Referring now to the several figures, it will be seen that the dispensing mechanism includes a front wall 10, a rear wall 11, side walls 12 and 13 and intermediate walls 14 and 15 providing three vertical bins generally indicated at A, B and C. It will be understood that bins A, B and C are of suitable width to receive the bottles therein in vertical stack. It should further be understood that any suitable numbers of such bins can be arranged in side by side relationship in the device. Bins A, B and C are open at the top and at the bottom. Suitable mechanism for releasing the lowermost bottle in the stack of bottles is provided adjacent the bottom of each bin, as will be described in more detail hereinafter, and the bottles are loaded in the bins from the top. The weight of the bottles in each bin therefore rests upon the lowermost bottle in the bin. The weight of the lowermost bottle and of the bottles above it in the stack is utilized in the actuation of the release mechanism as will appear later.

The release mechanism for the lowermost bottle in each stack of bottles is identical for each stack and so will be described for one bin only, it being understood that the release mechanism for each bin is selectively actuated by suitable controls such as a coin actuated switch of conventional design and operation, not shown.

Referring now more particularly to bin A as seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, the lowermost bottle 16 in the stack of bottles is supported by spaced parallel rods 17 and 18 spaced apart by less than the diameter of the bottle. Rod 17 is provided with a crank arm 19 which is pivoted at 2% in rear wall 11. The opposite end of rod 17 extends through slot 21 in front wall 10 and engages arm 22 which is pivoted to front wall 14 at 23.

Rod 18 is provided with crank arm 24 which is pivoted to rear wall 1 at 25. The opposite end of rod 18 extends through slot 26 in front wall iii and is engaged by arm 27 which is pivoted to front Wall 10 at 28.

The upper end of arm 22 carries pivot 29 on which link 30 is mounted, the other end of link 39 being bored at 31 to receive rod 18.

Ann 27 is extended upwardly at 32 and carries areshaped plate 33 generally at right angles thereto. Plate 33 is provided with slot 34 which has down turn portion 35.

A spring 36 is connected between arms 22 and 32.

A suitable solenoid 37, having an armature 38, is suitably mounted on front wall 10 above plate 33. A latch member 39 is pivoted to armature 38 at it! and is guided in vertical movement by clip 41 fastened to face plate 10.

Latch 39 normally passes through slot 34 and is engaged by down turn portion of plate 33 locking the mechanism to prevent bottle release.

The regulator mechanism referred to above includes rod 40 disposed parallel to rods 17 and 18 and in upper position disposed centrally beneath rods 17 and 13 as seen in FIG. 1. Rod 49 is provided with crank arm 41 pivoted to rear wall 11 at 42. Arm 43 is also mounted on pivot 42 and is provided with a stop 44 engaging arm 41 and a stop 45 which during the dispensing operation moves into engagement with side wall 12. A separator bar 46 is connected to arm 43 and extends to front wall 1% where it is secured to arm 47 which is pivotally mounted to front wall 10 at 48. A second arm 49 is mounted on pivot 43 and receives the other end of rod 44) which extends therethrough to provide abutment 5%. Rod 40 passes through arcuate slot 51 in front wall ltl.

Front wall it is extended at 52 to provide a mount for a suitable electric motor 53. Motor 53 is provided with a shaft 54 upon which disc 55 is mounted. Disc 55 is provided with pin 56 which receives one end of flexible non-extensible member 57, here shown as a chain. It

is to be understood that member 57 can be made of any suitable material of any suitable construction so long as it is non-extensible and flexible. Member 57 passes beneath and is engaged by abutment of rod 49 and passes over pins or rollers 58 to a suitable anchor 59 carried by extension 60'of face plate 16). Motor 53 and disc make one complete revolution from the position shown in FIG. 1, where member 57 is tensioned, for each actuation of any one of the bottle releasing mechanisms.

Assuming now that the device is set up as shown in FIG. 1 with bottles in the bins and latches 35 in slots 34 preventing dispensing of a bottle. The user then selects the bottle desired, it being understood that the bottles in the bins A, B and C may contain different contents or flavor of beverages, for example, and the user then actuates the appropriate solenoid 37 as by the deposit of a coin in known manner in this art. Assume that the selection is for a bottle in bin A so that deposit of the coin will then energize the solenoid 37 of that bin which will draw armature 38 upward moving latch 39 out of slot 34. This releases plate 33 so that arm 32 is released for rotation about pivot 28. Reiease of arm 32 also releases arm 22 for rotation about pivot 23. The weight of the bottles in the stack resting on rods 17 and 18 then force rods 17 and 18 apart in slots 21 and 26, respectively, against the action of spring 36 and plate 33 moves to the position shown in FIG. 2 with latch 39 resting thereon.

Movement of rods 17 and 18 apart permits bottle 16 to move downwardly into engagement with rod 40. Rod 40 cannot move downwardly in slot 51 because member 57 is in engagement with and under abutment 50 thereof and member 57 is under tension. However, when solenoid 37 is energised by the deposit of a coin, circuitry to motor 53 is completed, in known manner, to start motor 53 in rotation. Rotation of motor 53 acting through shaft 54 rotates disc 55 in a clockwise direction, as seen in the figures, and slack is slowly given to member 57 which then flexes about pin or roller 53 and permits rod 45 to swing downwardly at controlled speed and bottle 16 moves therewith. As rod 44 moves downwardly arms 41 and 49 rotate about their pivots 42 and 48, respectively,

and separator bar 46 moves therewith and is rotated into position, as seen in FIG. 3, beneath the next bottle in the stack until stop 45 engages side plate 12. Thereafter, arm 49 is free to rotate to its lowermost position shown in FIG. 3 as more and more slack is provided for member 57.

As soon as the greatest diameter of bottle 16 passes rods 17 and 18, spring 36 moves these rods toward each other and toward their initial position, as seen in FIG. 1, to receive and support the next bottle in the stack. Movement of rods 17 and 18 toward each other rotates arm 32 in a counterclockwise direction about pivot 28 until slot 34 in plate 33 moves beneath latch 39. Latch 39 then drops into slot 34. The mechanism is now locked against release of a bottle until released for another dispensing operation.

In the meantime disc 55 is continuing its rotation permitting rod 40 to swing downwardly in slot 51 to the position shown in FIG. 3 and until there is sufiicient clearance for bottle 16 to fall gently out of the bottom of bin A. After bottle 16 has dropped out of bin A continuing rotation of disc 55 in a clockwise direction retrieves the slack in member 57 and moves rod 46) upwardly in slot 51 to its original position. 'Rotation of motor 53 and of disc 55 terminates when member 57 is again under tension in its initial position shown in FIG. 1. As rod 40 moves upwardly in slot 51 arm 41 engages stop 44 on arm 53 and rotates arm 53 in a clockwise direction, as seen in the cut-away portion of bin C of FIG. 1, until separator bar 46 is moved from beneath the lowermost bottle in the stack and into position against partition 15. The mechanism is now ready for the next dispensing operation.

Separator bar 46 provides a safety feature preventing accidental dispensing of more than one bottle at a time.

It will be understood that motor 53 is energised for which ever one of the solenoids 37 is actuated and always makes one complete revolution for each bottle dispensed. Rotation of disc 55 through one complete revolution provides only suflicient slack for downward movement of one of the rods 4% and member 57 remains tensioned beneath the abutments 55 of the bins other than the dispensing bin. Dispensing from more than one bin at a time is thus prevented. More than one bottle cannot be dispensed for the deposit of a single coin.

It should now be apparent that the present invention in every way satisfies the several objectives discussed above.

Since the present concept is capable of various mechanical embodiments it may now be possible for one skilled in the art to modify the above described illustrative embodiment thereof without departing from the present inventive concept. Reference should therefore be had to the appended claims to determine the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A mechanism for dispensing a single bottle at a time from at least one vertical stack of bottles in a bin comprising two opposed bottle supports adjacent the lower end of the bin for each stack mounted for movement from a normal bottle supporting position to bottle releasing position and supporting in turn the lowermost bottle of the stack of bottles in the bin, an arm for and engaging each of said supports pivotally mounted on said bin, a link connecting an extremity of one of said arms and the other of said arms, a plate mounted on an extremity of the other of said arms, a solenoid actuated stop engaging said plate, a regulator bar beneath and parallel to said supports mounted for downward rotary movement from an upper to a lower position in the bin, a normally tensioned non-extensible flexible member holding said regulator bar against downward rotary movement and electric motor means energized when said solenoid is actuated releasing the tension on said flexible member for downward movement of said regulator bar to lower posi- U tion and then retensioning said flexible member for return of said regulator bar to upper position.

2. Mechanism as described in claim 1 including a separator bar mounted for rotation with said regulator bar into position beneath said bottle supports, said flexible member being disposed outside of said bin and an exten sion of said regulator bar engaging said resilient member.

3. Mechanism as described in claim 2, a stop for said separator bar when said bar is in position beneath said bottle supports, and a second stop for said separator bar engaged by said regulator bar on movement to its upper position whereby said separator bar is moved from position beneath said bottle supports.

4. Mechanism as described in claim 1, said motor means mak ng one complete revolution when said solenoid is actuated, a shaft for said motor and an eccentric connection between said shaft and said flexible member.

5. Mechanism as described in claim 1 including resilient means connected between said arms urging said bottle supports toward normal bottle supporting position, said flexible member being secured at one end to the bin and an eccentric connection between the other end of said flexible member and said motor means.

6. A mechanism for dispensing a single bottle at a time from at least one vertical stack of bottles in a bin comprising two opposed bottle supports adjacent the lower end of the bin for each stack of bottles mounted for movement from a normal bottle supporting position to bottle releasing position and supporting in turn the lowermost bottle of the stack of bottles in the bin, an arm pivoted at one extremity to said bin and secured to one of said supports medially of said arm, a plate secured to the other end of said arm, a slot in said plate, a latch mounted for movement into and out of said slot, a solenoid, an armature for said solenoid connected to said latch, a second arm medially pivoted to said bin and secured to the other of said bottle supports adjacent one end of said second arm, a link pivotally connected at the other end of said second arm and pivotally connected medially of said first arm, and resilient means urging said supports toward normal bottle supporting position.

7. Mechanism as described in claim 6, said resilient means extending between said arms.

8. Mechanism as described in claim 6 including a regulator bar beneath and parallel to said supports mounted for downward rotary movement in said bin from an upper to a lower position and motor means energized when said solenoid is actuated controlling the downward movement of said regulator bar and then returning said regulator bar to its upper position.

9. Mechanism as described in claim 8, said motor means including an electric motor, a shaft for said motor and a normally tensioned flexible non-extensible member secured at one end to said bin and eccentrically connected to said shaft at its other end, said regulator bar engaging said flexible member.

10. Mechanism as described in claim 8 including a separator bar mounted for rotation with said regulator bar into position beneath said bottle supports, a stop for sm'd separator bar when said separator bar is in position beneath said bottle supports, and a second stop for said eparator bar en aged by said regulator bar on movement to its upper position whereby said sepmator bar is moved from position beneath said bottle supports.

11. A vending mechanism of the type in which an article is dispensed from the bottom of a stack of articles by an article support which descends with said article by gravity to an article dispensing position comprising means for regulating the rate of descent of said support and article including a normally tensioned non-expansible flexible member normally disposed in standby position in engagement with said support, motor means for relieving the tension on said member, means for releasing an article from the stack onto said support, said motor means being energized upon release of an article from the stack and relieving the tension on said member until the article is dispensed and then applying tension to said member and returning said support to standby position, said motor means making one complete revolution for each article dispensed, a shaft for said motor means, and an eccentric connection between said shaft and said member.

12. A vending mechanism of the type in which an article is dispensed from the bottom of a stack of articles by an article support which descends with said article by gravity to an article dispensing position comprising means for regulating the rate of descent of said support and article including a normally tensioned non-expansible flexible member normally disposed in standby position in engagement with said support, motor means for relieving the tension on said member, means for releasing an article from the stack onto said support, said motor means being energized upon release of an article from the stack and relieving the tension on said member until the article i dispensed and then applying tension to said member and returning said support to standby position, said motor means making one complete revolution for each article dispensed, a shaft for said motor means, said flexible member being fixed against movement at one end and an eccentric connection between said shaft and the other end of said member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,810,100 Bertel June 6, 1931 

1. A MECHANISM FOR DISPENSING A SINGLE BOTTLE AT A TIME FROM AT LEAST ONE VERTICAL STACK OF BOTTLES IN A BIN COMPRISING TWO OPPOSED BOTTLE SUPPORTS ADJACENT THE LOWER END OF THE BIN FOR EACH STACK MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT FROM A NORMAL BOTTLE SUPPORTING POSITION TO BOTTLE RELEASING POSITION AND SUPPORTING IN TURN THE LOWERMOST BOTTLE OF THE STACK OF BOTTLES IN THE BIN, AN ARM FOR AND ENGAGING EACH OF SAID SUPPORTS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID BIN, A LINK CONNECTING AN EXTREMITY OF ONE OF SAID ARMS AND THE OTHER OF SAID ARMS, A PLATE MOUNTED ON AN EXTREMITY OF THE OTHER OF SAID ARMS, A SOLENOID ACTUATED STOP ENGAGING SAID PLATE, A REGULATOR BAR BENEATH AND PARALLEL TO SAID SUPPORTS MOUNTED FOR DOWNWARD ROTARY MOVEMENT FROM AN UPPER TO A LOWER POSITION IN THE BIN, A NORMALLY 